No licensee shall perform wireline service operations with a
sealed source(s) unless, prior to commencement of the operation, the licensee
has a written agreement with the well operator, well owner, drilling
contractor, or land owner. The licensee shall retain a copy of the written
agreement for three years after the well logging operation has been completed.
The written agreement shall identify who will meet the following
requirements:
(A)
(1) In the event a sealed source is lodged
downhole, a reasonable effort at recovery will be made.
(2) A person may not attempt to recover a
sealed source in a manner which, in the licensee's opinion, could result in its
rupture.
(3) The licensee shall
conduct radiation monitoring to detect any contamination.
(a) If the licensee detects evidence of that
a sealed source has ruptured or licensed materials have caused contamination,
the licensee shall initiate immediately the emergency procedures required in
105 CMR
120.932.
(b) If contamination results from the use of
licensed material in well logging, the licensee shall decontaminate all work
areas, equipment, and unrestricted areas.
(c) During efforts to recover a sealed source
lodged in the well, the licensee shall continuously monitor, with an
appropriate radiation detection instrument or a logging tool with a radiation
detector, the circulating fluid from the well, if any, to check for
contamination resulting from damage to the sealed source.
(4) If the environment, any equipment, or
personnel are contaminated with licensed material, they must be decontaminated
before release from the site or release for unrestricted use.
(5) If the sealed source is classified as
irretrievable after reasonable efforts at recovery have been expended, the
following requirements must be implemented within 30 days:
(a) Each irretrievable well logging source
must be immobilized and sealed in place with a cement plug.
(b) A means to prevent inadvertent intrusion
on the source, unless the source is not accessible to any subsequent drilling
operations; and,
(c) A permanent
identification plaque, constructed of long lasting material such as stainless
steel, brass, bronze, or monel, must be mounted at the surface of the well,
unless the mounting of the plaque is not practical. The size of the plaque must
be at least 17 cm (seven inches) square and three mm (c ") thick. The plaque
must contain:
1. The word "CAUTION";
2. The radiation symbol (the conventional
color requirement need not be met);
3. The date of abandonment;
4. The name of the well operator or well
owner;
5. The well name and well
identification number(s) or other designation;
6. The sealed source(s) by radionuclide and
quantity of activity;
7. The source
depth and the depth to the top of the plug; and,
8. An appropriate warning, depending on the
specific circumstances of each abandonment. (Appropriate warnings may include:
(A) "Do not drill below plug back depth";
(B) "Do not enlarge casing";
or
(C) "Do not re-enter the hole",
followed by the words, "before contacting the Massachusetts Radiation Control
Program".)
(B) In the event a decision is made to
abandon the sealed source downhole, the requirements of 105 CMR 120.904(A) and
any other Commonwealth Agency having applicable regulations shall be
met.
(C) The licensee shall retain
a copy of the written agreement for three years after the completion of the
well logging operation.
(D) A
licensee may apply, pursuant to 105 CMR 120.904, for Agency approval, on a
case-by-case basis, of proposed procedures to abandon an irretrievable well
logging source in a nanner not otherwise authorized in 105 CMR 120.904(A)(5).
